Wards Are At Full Capacity

Overstretched hospital at ‘code black’ and cancels non-elective surgery procedures

- Paul Hutcheon

A hospital in the Highlands has reached full capacity after facing “unprecedented levels of demand” for vital services.

NHS Highland said Raigmore Hospital, in Inverness, is at “code black” and all non-urgent elective surgery has been cancelled in the region.

It comes after a senior Scottish Goverment minister outlined how Scotland would take a more cautious approach to lockdown easing than England.

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said there would be “fundamental differences” between the UK neighbours after July 19 with certain restrictions continuing here for a much longer time.

She said some legal restrictions, such as wearing face masks, are likely to continue even after August 9 when Scotland plans to move “beyond Level 0”.

It came after an announcement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson that mask-wearing, social distancing, and working from home would become optional down south.

Concerns are growing about the impact on the NHS of the recent surge in Covid cases, allied to a resumption of demand for normal services.

Over the last 24 hours, 2363 people in Scotland have returned positive tests, while there have been six deaths recorded.